By Candace Farmer — Reporter
The San Jose State men’s basketball season will bounce back in action today against Fresno Pacific.
The game will be held at Kaiser Permanente Area in Santa Cruz, Calif., tip-off begins at 5 p.m. This will be the first game of the season for both teams.
The previous games on the Spartans’ schedule were canceled because of COVID-19 contact tracing in previous opponents’ teams and Santa Clara County health orders restricting games and practices. This delayed start for the program led to a second attempt to play against the Sunbirds.
The men’s basketball team had a rough 2019 season with a 7-24 record. The Spartans lost in the first round of the Mountain West Tournament 79-66 against New Mexico.
Although the 2019 season wasn’t the strongest in Spartan men’s basketball history, there are players to keep an eye on for the 2020 season and an opportunity to turn things around.
Junior guard Seneca Knight made 30 starts and appeared in all 31 games last season.
The Louisiana native averaged 17.1 points per game and was the highest scorer and rebounder for the team. He was named third All-Mountain West, with a career-best 37 points against Colorado State on Feb. 22.
Knight also ranked highest on the team in field goals (162), free throws (.772), and turnovers (82) in the 2019 season.
Senior guard Richard Washington looks to be a hopeful second in command this year alongside Knight. Last year was his first season with the Spartans and he earned a starting position. Washington appeared in all 31 games and finished as the second-highest scorer on the team.
The Spartans had to say goodbye to alumni guard Brae Ivey last season. Ivey started all 31 games his senior season, averaging 8.8 points and 2.5 assists per game.
Ivey was one of the best free-throw shooters in the Mountain West, shooting 80.9 in two seasons with SJSU.
The roster is looking much younger this year, with five freshmen joining the team. The Spartans also introduced junior transfer and Knight’s best friend, Jalen Dalcourt who frequently played against Knight in high school.
Dalcourt transferred from Iowa Western Community College, averaging 10.2 points per game last season. It will be interesting to watch these two best friends and formal rivals’ chemistry play out on the court.
With the cancellation of three previously scheduled games, the Spartans are eager to start the 2020 season.
The Mountain West games are scheduled to start on Dec. 21, following a modified 20-game schedule that will take place over an 11-week period in compliance with health and safety orders.
Follow Candace on Twitter @candizzle__
